Ocular implant delivery system and method

Abstract

A method of inserting an ocular implant into a patient's eye, the ocular implant being mounted on a carrier, the method comprising: inserting a cannula into an anterior chamber of the eye; moving a distal exit port of the cannula into communication with Schlemm's canal; and advancing the ocular implant and carrier through an exit port of the cannula into Schlemm's canal. The invention also provides an ocular implant and delivery system comprising: a cannula comprising a distal exit port adapted to be inserted into a Schlemm's canal portion of an eye; an ocular implant; a carrier disposed within the implant and movable with the implant within the cannula; and a proximal control adapted to be operated from exterior to an eye to move at least one of the carrier and the implant when the distal exit port of the cannula is within the eye.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An ocular implant and delivery system comprising:
 a cannula comprising a distal cutting portion, a distal exit port adapted to be inserted into a Schlemm's canal portion of an eye, and a distal stop element; 
 an ocular implant disposed within the cannula and comprising a plurality of openings through a longitudinal side of the implant; 
 a pusher disposed within the cannula and engaged with the ocular implant; and 
 a proximal control operably connected to the pusher and adapted to be operated from exterior to an eye to move the implant when the distal exit port of the cannula is within the eye. 
 
     
     
       2. The system of  claim 1  wherein the cannula forms an arc of a circle. 
     
     
       3. The system of  claim 2  wherein the cannula has a radius of curvature less than about 0.1 inches. 
     
     
       4. The system of  claim 1  wherein the cannula has a diameter less than about 0.03 inches. 
     
     
       5. The system of  claim 1  wherein the cutting portion comprises a cutting edge angled with respect to a central axis of the cannula. 
     
     
       6. The system of  claim 5  wherein the cutting edge is at an angle of between about 10 degrees and about 80 degrees with respect to the central axis. 
     
     
       7. The system of  claim 5  wherein the stop element is disposed at a proximal extent of the cutting edge. 
     
     
       8. The system of  claim 1  wherein the distal cutting portion at least partially defines the exit port. 
     
     
       9. The system of  claim 1  further comprising a carrier disposed within the implant, oriented to block the implant openings and movable with the implant within the cannula. 
     
     
       10. The system of  claim 9  wherein the ocular implant and carrier together comprise a blunt distal end. 
     
     
       11. The system of  claim 9  wherein the carrier has a larger diameter portion and a smaller diameter portion, the ocular implant being engaged with the larger diameter portion of the carrier. 
     
     
       12. The system of  claim 11  wherein the pusher comprises an implant engagement mechanism adapted to hold an ocular implant during advancement out of the exit port of the cannula. 
     
     
       13. The system of  claim 12  wherein the ocular implant is engaged with the implant engagement mechanism when the implant is disposed between the larger diameter portion of the carrier and the implant engagement mechanism, and the ocular implant is disengaged with the implant engagement mechanism when the implant is disposed between the smaller diameter portion of the carrier and the implant engagement mechanism. 
     
     
       14. The system of  claim 12  wherein the engagement mechanism comprises a friction fit between the implant and the carrier. 
     
     
       15. The system of  claim 14  wherein the engagement mechanism further comprises a friction fit between the implant and the pusher. 
     
     
       16. The system of  claim 12  wherein the engagement mechanism is adapted to attach the implant to the pusher such that the implant and pusher can be moved as a unit. 
     
     
       17. The system of  claim 12  wherein the engagement mechanism is adapted to attach the implant to the pusher such that the implant, carrier and pusher can be moved as a unit. 
     
     
       18. The system of  claim 9  wherein the carrier comprises a material delivery lumen in communication with a material inlet in the proximal control. 
     
     
       19. The system of  claim 9  wherein the proximal control comprises a distal handle connected to the cannula and a proximal handle comprising a carrier movement actuator, the proximal handle and the distal handle being movable with respect to each other. 
     
     
       20. The system of  claim 19  wherein the proximal handle further comprises an implant movement actuator. 
     
     
       21. The system of  claim 9  wherein the carrier extends proximally into the pusher. 
     
     
       22. The system of  claim 9  wherein the carrier is further adapted to move with the implant through the distal exit port of the cannula. 
     
     
       23. The system of  claim 22  wherein the proximal control is further adapted to move the carrier through the distal exit port of the cannula and to retract the carrier back into the cannula. 
     
     
       24. The system of  claim 1  wherein the distal cutting portion comprises two convex edges meeting at a tip.